Business card dispenser having a reciprocating card ejector means



March 14, 1967 J. c. ALLTOP ETAL 3,308,989

BUSINESS CARD DISPENSER HAVING A RECIPROCATING CARD EJECTOR MEANS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 so 3/ FIG-5 I @r S 8 "l3 H afar". 3 w WHO Mn 8 1m A g x w w United States Patent Ofiice 3,308,989 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,308,989 BUSINESS CARD DISPENSER HAVING A RE- CEPROCATING CARD EJECTGR MEANS James C. Alltop and Fred C. Crowe, Dayton, Ghio, as-

signor's to International Specialty Products, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed ()ct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,344 4 Claims. (Cl. 221-232) This invention relates to the dispensing of sheet material, and particularly to apparatus for storing and dispensing business cards.

The use of business cards by salesmen, attorneys, and other professional people has come into Wide acceptance throughout the United States. These cards generally contain the telephone number and address as well as the name of the person, and provide a quick reference for the person who is given the card. The cards are printed on paper board having a wide range of shapes, sizes and thicknesses, and any dispenser therefor must accordingly be capable of accommodating a wide variety of business cards. The dispenser must also dispense only one card at a time since the dispensing of more than one card is wasteful and undesirable from the point of view of the person owning the dispenser. Specifically, this invention concerns business card dispensers of the type shown and described in the United States patent of Hartzell, No. 2,084,085, granted June 15, 1937.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a business card dispenser of the aforesaid type which is a substantial improvement over that shown in the Hartzell patent in that it will accommodate and dispense cards of various thicknesses without the disadvantage of dispensing more than one at a time.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for dispensing business cards which is adapted to be easily and quickly filled with a supply of business cards regardless of the size or thickness thereof, and further to provide a dispensing apparatus of this type which is free from sharp edges which might catch on or cut clothing and which is simple in design for reduced manufacturing costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved business card dispenser which is relatively small in outer configuration so that it can be easily stored in the pocket of the owner, and particularly to provide a dispenser which is actuated by the thumb while held in the hand to advance a business card a short distance so that the receiver may grasp it and withdraw it from the dispenser.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a business card dispenser held in the hand of a user;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the dispenser without any cards therein and taken generally along the line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the dispensing end of the apparatus showing the manner in which one card projects from the end thereof;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the dispenser taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the dispenser in its open position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the pusher plate engages the rear of a card;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the dispensing slot of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the end portion shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, FIG. 1 illustrates the dispenser 10 which is held in the hand 11 of the user in a position to enable the thumb 12 to be used to reciprocate the actuator 13 to advance partially a business card 15 from the left-hand end of the dispenser 10.

The dispenser 10 generally includes a main frame 16 (FIGS. 2-6) which has a flat top surface or wall 17 having the downwardly extending side walls 18 (FIG. 2) integrally formed at the opposite side edges thereof. The inwardly extending flanges 21 are similarly formed on the lower edge 22 of the side walls 18 and project inwardly parallel to the top wall 17. The space defined between the top and side walls 17 and 18 is sufliciently large to accommodate generally all sizes of business cards 15. The entrance or right-hand end 24 (FIG. 4) of the main frame 16 has the side walls 18 and flanges 21 tapered at 25 to facilitate insertion of a stack of business cards 15.

The left-hand or outlet end 27 of the main frame 16 is an important feature of this invention and includes the lip 28 which extends longitudinally beyond the side walls 18 and the inwardly extending flanges 21. An enlarged slot member 30 is formed from a single piece of metal and is secured to this outlet end of the main frame. This member includes the flat bottom and top walls 31 and 32 which have the side walls 33 integrally formed therewith. The end wall 35 is similarly integrally connected perpendicularly to each of the side walls 31, 32, and 33 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The precisely cut slot 38 extends across the top edge of the end wall 35 parallel to the lip 28 of the top wall 17 of the main housing so that the lip extends through the slot 18. The slot member 34) and the size of the slot 38 are of substantial importance to the invention since they prohibit the dispensing of more than one business card 15, as frequently occurs in the prior art devices. The width of the slot 38 is equal to the thickness of the lip 28 plus a distance slightly less than the thickness of two comparatively thin business cards 15 but slightly greater than the thickness of one comparatively thick card so that only one thin or thick business card can be pushed through the slot below the lip.

The slot member 30 is secured to the main frame 16 by the two rivets 39 which extend through the top wall 32 thereof into the top surface 17, as seen in FIG. 4. In the prior art devices, the size of this slot frequently becomes enlarged to allow two or three business cards to dispense therefrom at one time. However, the one piece construction of the slot member 30 which cooperates with the main frame 16 and the lip 28 prevents the size of the slot 38 from varying and thus only one card can be forced therethrough.

The stack of cards 15 is held on the mainframe 1.6 by a rectangular spring retainer 40 wihch may be full tempered No. 303 stainless steel and which has a width larger than the distances between the inner edges 41 of the flanges 21 so that this spring retainer fiis within the flanges 21 and urges the stack of cards 15 towards the top Wall 17, as shown in FIG. 4. Cards of this type have a thickness ranging from .008 to .012 inch, and outer dimensions of 2% by 3% inches or smaller. The width of the slot 33 is .012 inch and thus only one card can pass therethrough at any one time. As the cards 15 are withdrawn from the main frame 16, the resiliency of the retainer 40 urges the stack upwardly so that a card always engages the top wall 17.

The cards are removed from the main frame 16 by the pusher plate 44 which is generally rectangular in configuration and extends between the side walls 18 of the main frame 16. The pusher plate 44 is mounted for reciprocation with the actuator 13 which projects through the elongated slots 45 in the top wall 17 and is secured to the pusher plate 44. by the rivets 46 or other conventional fasteners, as shown in FIG. 2. The stroke of the actuator 13 is limited by the length of the slots 45 since the connecting legs 48 thereon extend through these slots and thus move through a controlledpath only.

The trailing edge 50 of the pusher plate 44 is deformed downwardly to provide a shoulder-51 thereon which has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of a comparatively thin business card 15, to wit, .007 inch plus or minus .001 inch, so that only one card can be engaged at any one time. As the actuator 13 is moved from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 4, the shoulder 51 engages one of the cards and forces it along the top wall 17 through the slot 38 defined between the lip 28 and the lower edge 53 of. the end wall 35. When the actuator reaches the forward or left hand end of its travel, the business card has projected about one inch from the slot 38 so that a person can grasp the card 15 to withdraw it from the dispenser. The actuator 13' is then returned to its right-hand position which causes the pusher plate 44 to move across the top of the next card until the shoulder 51 drops off the edge at which point the actuator is ready to dispense another card.

A cover 55 of leather, plastic or equivalent material is provided over five sides of the main frame 16 and this cover includes a top cover section 56 which is the only portion of the cover which is secured to the main frame 16. Accordingly, the top section 56 has a rectangular opening 57 therein and the metallic actuator guide 58 has a similar rectangular opening therein so that this guide can be used to clamp the cover 55 to the main frame. Specifically, the tabs 60. on the opposite ends of the guide are placed through suitable openings 61 in the top wall 17, and are then deformed over so that they lie flat in the plane of the top wall 17. This deforming operation causes the portion of the top wall 17 adjacent the openings 61 to be deformed outwardly so that the tabs lie in the plane of the top wall.

The horizontal flange 62 is formed integrally with and extends entirely around the actuator guide 53 and has the outer edge 64 thereof coined downwardly so that it is depressed into the top section of cover 55 to clamp securely this cover to the top wall 17. As a result of the coining operation there are no sharp edges provided on the actuator guide 58 which might catch on or cut clothing or other objects. The coveralso has the sidesections 66 which wrap around the side Walls 18 with the bottom sections or flaps 68 and 70 which can be snapped together to provide a smooth bottom on the dispenser 15. An end flap 72 may be provided to close the entrance end 24 of the main frame 16 wherein the cards are inserted. The lip 28 also serves the important purpose of prevent.- ing the edge 55a of the cover 55 from blocking or obstructing the sl0t.38.

To fill the dispenser 15, it is merely necessary to open the cover 55 by separating or unsnapping the conventional fasteners (not shown) on the bottom sections 68 and 70 thereof and folding back the closure flap 72. The spring retainer 40 is then removed by sliding it from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 4, to remove it from the entrance end 24 of the main frame 16. A stack of cards 15 is then placed in the main frame with the writing or. printed portion of the cards disposed toward the top wall 17. The spring 40 is reinserted to urge securely the stack of business cards 15 toward the topwall 17, and then the flap 72 and bottom sections 68 and 70 of the cover 55 are resecured in position. If the actuator 13 is not already in its right-hand position, it is returned to this position, and when a card 15 is to be dispensed it is merely necessary to push the actuator 13 from right to left, as viewed in 'FIG. 4, so that the downwardly extending shoulder 51 catches the rear edge 15a of the top card and forces it horizontally along the top wall 17 through the slot 38 a distance sufficient for it to be grasped and pulledthe re maining distance from the dispenser. The actuator 13 is then returned to its right-hand position wherein it is ready to dispense another card 15.-

Only one card can be dispensed at a time because of the carefully controlled slot 38 which is definedbetween the lip 2% on the top surface 17 and the upper edge of the end wall, as hereinbefore described. \Vhen the invention is being mass produced, it is easy to maintain the necessary dimensions of the slot 38 sincethe slot member 30 is formed integrally and accordingly the distance cannot change during manufacture through extensive use over long periods. The manner in which the cover 55 is secured to the main frame 16 is also an important feature of the inventionsince it provides a convenient method of assembly'which does not present sharp edges, which may catch on clothes or providea cutting surface.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 wherein theslot member 31 and the main frame 16 are formed integrally as a body member of a suitable plastic material. In this embodiment the slot 81 is controlled in a manner similar to that described above since the parts which form the periphery of the slot are formed integrally as a single ,unit memberr The lip 33 projectsforwardly above the slot 81' for the purposes defined above, and the operationand dimensions of this embodiment are substantially identical to that described above.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be under stood that the invention isnot limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein .without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A business card dispenser. of the character described comprising, a main frame having a fiat surface with integral side Walls, inwardly extending flanges on the edge of said side walls opposite said flat surface, a lip extending from said flat. surface on one end thereof, a slot containing member secured to said one end of said main frame and including an end wall having four integral, side walls which extend over portion of said main frame, a precisely formed. rectangular slot in said endwall adjacent said fiatsurface, said slot having a width slightly less than the combined thickness of said lip and the thickness of two comparatively thin business cards,- a pusher plate -reciprocably mounted on said flat surface and having a shoulder for engaging the business card disposed against said flat surface to move such card along said flat surface and through the dispensing slot between said edge and said lip, means for urging a stack of cards toward said flat surface, cover means for, saidmain frame except said one end, and means for'tactuatingsaid pusher plate.

2. A business card dispenser of the character described comprising, a main frame having a hat surface with integral side walls, inwardly extending flanges on the edge of said side walls opposite said-flat surface, a lip extending from said flat surface on one end thereof, a one-piece slot containing member secured .to said one end of said main frame and including an end wall having I four integral side walls which extend over portion of said mainframe, a precisely formed rectangular slot in said end wall adjacent said flat surface, said slot having a width'slightly less than the combined. thickness of said lip and the thickness of two comparatively thin business cards, a pusher plate reciprocably mounted on said flat surface and having a shoulder for engaging the business card disposed against said flatsurface to move such card along said fiat surface and through the, dispensing slot between said edge and said lip, means for urging a stack of cards toward said flat surface, cover means for said main frame except said one end, a pair of elongated longitudinal openings in said top surface, and an actuator on the outside surface of said flat surface and having a pair of legs which extend through said openings and are connected to said pusher plate, said slot limiting the stroke of said actuator so that said pusher plate forces the cards a preset distance through said slot.

3. A business card dispenser of the character described comprising, a main frame having a flat surface with integral side walls, inwardly extending flanges on the edge of said side Walls opposite said flat surface, a lip extending from said flat surface on one end thereof, a slot containing member secured to said one end of said main frame and including an end wall having four integral side walls which extend over portion of said main frame, a precisely formed rectangular slot in said end wall adjacent said flat surface, said slot having a width slightly less than the combined thickness of said lip and the thickness of two comparatively thin business cards, a pusher plate reciprocably mounted on said flat surface and having a shoulder for engaging the business card disposed against said flat surface to move such card along said flat surface and through the dispensing slot, means for urging a stack of cards toward said flat surface, cover means for said main frame except said one end, a pair of elongated longitudinal openings in said flat surface, an actuator on the outside surface of said flat surface and having a pair of legs which extend through said openings and are connected to said pusher plate, said slot limiting the stroke of said actuator so that said pusher plate forces the cards a preset distance through said slot, an actuator guide secured to said outside surfaces of said flat surface around said actuator, said actuator guide having an elongated opening therein for reciprocation of said actuator, and a flange on said guide parallel to said fiat surface and having an outer edge coined toward said fiat surface to provide the sole means for clamping said cover to said main frame.

4. A business card dispenser of the character described comprising, a unitary main frame having a top wall with integral side Walls, inwardly extending flanges on the edge of said side Walls opposite said top wall, a lip extending from said flat surface on one end thereof, an end wall integrally secured to said Walls and containing :a card dispensing slot positioned adjacent said lip, an integral flange on said end Wall integrally secured to the portion of said inwardly extending flanges adjacent said end wall, said slot having a width slightly less than the combined thickness of the thickness of two comparatively thin business cards, a pusher plate reciprocably mounted on said inner surface of said top wall and having a shoulder for engaging the business card disposed against said inner surface to move such card along said inner surface and through the said dispensing slot, means for urging a stack of cards toward said inner surface, cover means for enclosing substantially all of said main frame except said one end wall, a pair of elongated longitudinal openings in said top wall, an actuator on the outside surface of said top wall and having a pair of legs which extend through said openings and are connected to said pusher plate, said openings limiting the stroke of said actuator so that said pusher plate forces the cards a preset distance through said slot, an actuator guide secured to the inner surface of said top wall around said actuator, said actuator guide having an elongated guide opening therein for guiding reciprocation of said actuator, and a flange on said guide parallel to said top wall and having an outer edge coined toward said top wall to provide the sole means for clamping said cover to said main frame.

References Cited by the Examiner -UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,333 8/1896 Davis 221-232 1,198,394 9/1916 Lilly 221-232 1,244,338 10/1917 Johnson 221-232 1,503,144 7/1924 Warwick 221-232 2,007,859 7/1935 Hartzell 221-232 2,308,383 1/1943 Muros 221-232 2,608,755 9/1952 Fennelly 221-232 X WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BUSINESS CARD DISPENSER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING, A MAIN FRAME HAVING A FLAT SURFACE WITH INTEGRAL SIDE WALLS, INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ON THE EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALLS OPPOSITE SAID FLAT SURFACE, A LIP EXTENDING FROM SAID FLAT SURFACE ON ONE END THEREOF, A SLOT CONTAINING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID ONE END OF SAID MAIN FRAME AND INCLUDING AN END WALL HAVING FOUR INTEGRAL SIDE WALLS WHICH EXTEND OVER PORTION OF SAID MAIN FRAME, A PRECISELY FORMED RECTANGULAR SLOT IN SAID END WALL ADJACENT SAID FLAT SURFACE, SAID SLOT HVING A WIDTH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF SAID LIP AND THE THICKNESS OF TWO COMPARTIVELY THIN BUSINESS CARDS, A PUSHER PLATE RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FLAT SURFACE AND HAVING A SHOULDER FOR ENGAGING THE BUSINESS CARD DISPOSED AGAINST SAID FLAT SURFACE TO MOVE SUCH CARD ALONG SAID FLAT SURFACE AND THROUGH THE DISPENSING SLOT BETWEEN SAID EDGE AND SAID LIP, MEANS FOR URGING A STACK OF CARDS TOWARD SAID FLAT SURFACE, COVER MEANS FOR SAID MAIN FRAME EXCEPT SAID ONE END, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PUSHER PLATE. 